Automatic burner lighter



y 17, 1932- H. A. MANTZ 1,858,516

AUTOMATIC BURNER LIGHTER Filed June 24, 1929 LEIGZ F 29 "T 47 cc .45

22 E & 2

-Wkt 15 WITNESSES we v v @w AT OQNEY Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES HAROLD A. MANTZ, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T EDWARD N. JAGOBI, TRUSTEE, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN AUTOMATIC BURNER LIGHTER Application filed June 24,

This invention has for its object to provide an automatic lighter for gas burners such as the burners of a gas range, but the lIlVBIl tionis not limited to such use.

'5? An object of the invention is to provide a pilot which will be automatically increased in intensity to become effective for lighting a burner upon the reduction of pressure in the supply pipe incident to turning on the gas 1 to the burner, such increased intensity being momentary and parts resuming their normal positions to repeat the operation for lighting other burners as required.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for varying the period of operation of the automatic lighter.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists in the automatic burner lighter as herein claimed and all equiva- 29 lents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in different views,

Fig. 1 is a central sectional view of an automatic burner lighter constructed in accordance with this invention, the parts being shown in the closed or normal position of the valve;

Fig. 2 is a similar view on a larger scale 30 showing the open position of the valve, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the usual relation of the lighter to the burner.-

In these drawings, indicates a gas supply pipe or manifold, which, in the case of a gas range, supplies a plurality of burners 11 controlled individually by their valves 12. An unvalved feed pipe 13, however, connects the supply pipe 10 with a centrally located casing 14,, which ispreferably of sheet metal and cup-shaped as shown, with a diaphragm 15 extending across it. A cover plate 16 is attached in place beneath the diaphragm to protect it and is preferably provided with openings to admit atmospheric pressure to the bottom of the diaphragm. A coiled spring 17 bears at one end against a spring seat 18 carried by the diaphragmat its center and its other end engages a flanged disk 19 constituting an adjustable seat whichis 50 mounted on a set screw 20 threaded in the cap 1929. Serial No. 373,359.

16 and provided with a jamb nut 21 for locking it in its adjustment. In this manner a predetermined spring pressure is appliedto the bottom of the diaphragm, which may be adjusted byturning screw 20.

Mounted on the casing 1 and in gastight connection therewith is a metal body member 22 having a central bore 23 and a larger diameter bore 24 concentric therewith to re: ceive a floating tubular valve seat The valve seat '25, while tightly fitting the smaller bore 23 with its upper tubular end, has a trunk head26 near its lower end forming a plunger fitting in the larger bore 24: and provided with a packing ring 27 to make a close Working iit therewith. A coiled spring 28 surrounds the tubular valve seat member, bearing at. its lower end againstthe trunk head 26 and at its upper end against a washer 29, which confines a gasket between it and the shoulder 31 formed by the change in diameter of the bore, making another close working fit for the valve seat member.

(A dash-pot eft'ect is produced by the plunger head 26 working in the larger bore 24, serving to restrain in the movements of the valve seat member under the action of spring 28, and a pressure-equalizing passage 42 connects the pressure chamber in the interior of the casing 14 with the bore 24, the passageway through it being controlledby a set screw 43.

A pilot flashing valve member 32 engages its conical head upon the seat formed by the lower end of the tubular valve seat member 25 and its stem 33 extends upwardly through the valve seat member and is provided with a disk 3 clinched or otherwise secured to it. A coiled spring 35 isconfined between the disk 3% and the end of the valve seat member 25 to normally hold the valve on its seat. The disk 34 does not interrupt the passage through the bore 23 when the valve is open, being smaller or provided with openings. 7 V

A ring 36 is preferably clamped between the diaphragm and the casing 14 as a means for support of: a multiplying leverage connection between the diaphragmand the valve member. Preferably bent up from the ring 36 is'a bracket 37 having a long horizontal arm anda short vertical arm and fulcrmned in the former is a yoke lever 38 having a slot and pin connection with a post 39 standing up from the spring seat 18. A link 40 connects the longer free end of the lever 38 with a yoke lever 41 near its fulcrum on the upstanding shorter arm of the bracket, while the yoke-d end of the lever 41 has a slot and pin connection with a projection on the end of the valve member 32.

On the upper end of the body member 22 is a pilot nozzle 44 having outlet openings extending in the direction of the various burners 11 and a guard hood 45 surrounds the nozzle with openings 46 in register with the jet openings to permit the jets of flame to extend therethrough to the burners for lighting them.

The normal supply of gas to the pilot nozzle 44' to maintain the small pilot 'flame'is provided for by a passageway 4'7 from the pressure chamber of the casing 14 to the bore 23 and the passage through it is controlled by a set screw 48.

In operation the parts are normally in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the valve 32 closed and a s'uflicient flow of gas through passageway 47 to the pilot nozzle to maintain the local pilot light. Instead of a manually operated valve for increasing the gas pres sure on the pilot nozzle to produce pilot flash ing or the radiating jets of burner lighting flame the automatic mechanism of this invention accomplishes that purpose incidental to.

the opening of a burner valve. As soon as a burner valve is opened the pressure within the manifold 10 and consequently the pressure within the pressure chamber of the casing 14 is reduced, thus permittingflspring 17 to flex the diaphragm, as shown in Fig. 2, lifting the post 39 and causing it to quickly lower the valve member. The valve seat member being restrained by its dash-pot action, is incapable of following at once, with the result that the opened valve permits the increased flow of gas to the pilot nozzle to create the radiating burner-lighting jets of flame or what is known as pilot flashing. This condition is only momentary, however, because the spring 28 gradually moves the valve seat toward the valve in its new position as permitted by the flow of gas through the passageway 42 to the dash-pot, and when the seat reaches the valve the flow of gas through it is again closed and normal conditions of the lighter are restored. It is not necessary that the valve and va'lve'seat should return to their original positions but they may close at any position of the diaphragm, depending on the gas pressure, and will open upon a reduction of that pressure by the opening of the burner valve, thus making the lighter eflective for lighting each burner as it is turned on even though one or more burners are in operation. When all burners are turned off and full pressure is resumed to return the diaphragm to its original position the downward movements thereof produce an upward movement of the valve member and cause it to push the valve seat member against the spring 28 to a higher position from which the parts may again start their operation the next time a burner valve is opened.

By means of this invention provision is made for automatically lighting a burnerv when it is turned on, making manual operation unnecessary. V

The term pilot as herein used is intended in the broad sense, which will include the burner-liglfiting flames whether ignited by a constantly burning flame or otherwise.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lighter for a'burne'r having a valvecontrolled connection with a supply pipe, comprising a. pilot, and means. for'admitting an increased supply of gas to the pilot operative upon a reduction in pressure in the supply pipe incident "to the opening of the burner valve. 7

2. A lighter for a burner having valvecontrolled connection with a supply pipe, comprising a chamber having connection with the supply pipe, a pilot, and means in the chamber sensitive to the reduction in pressure in the supply pipe, incident to the opening of the burner valve, for increasing the supply of as to the pilo 3. A lighter for a burner having valve connection with a supply pipe, comprising 'a chamber communicating with the supply pipe, means in the chamber sensitive to the 7 pressure in the supply pipe, a pilot communieating with the chamber, and means for increasing the flow to the pilot operated by said '1)re'ss'ure=sensitive means.

' A lighter for a burner having valve-con trolled connection with a supply pipe, comprising a chamber having communication with the supply pipe,.a. diaphragm. therein, a pilot flashing valve operated by the diaphragm, and a pilot'h'aving communication with the chamber controlled by said valve.

5. A light'er for a burner having valve connection with a supply pipe, comprising a chamber communicating with the suppply pipe, pressure-sensitive means therein, a pllot flashing valve operated bythe pressure-sensitive means, and a pilot having.communication with the chamber controlled by the valve.

6. A lighter for a burner having valve connection with a supply pipe, comprising a chamber communicating with a supply pipe, pressure=sensitive means therein, a pilot flashing valve controlled by the pressure sensitivemeans, a valve seat urged toward the valve but'r'ejtardedf'in its movements, and

a pilot'with'its supply controlled by the valve.

alighter for a burner having fconi ection with a supply pipe, av pressure-sensitive means 'si'ibj'ec'te'd to the pressure in the supply pipe, apilot flashing valve operated thereby, a movable seat for the valve urged toward the valve but having its movements retarded, and a pilot with its supply controlled by the valve.

8. In a lighter for a burner having connection with a supply pipe, a pressure-sensitive means subjected to the pressure in the supply pipe, apilot flashing valve operated thereby, and a pilot with its supply controlled by the valve.

9. In an automatic burner lighter operable upon the opening of the valve between the burner and its supply pipe, achamber having communication with the supply pipe, a diaphragm therein, a spring bearing on the diaphragm, a valve operated by the diaphragm, a movable valve seat urged toward the valve and retarded in its movements, and a pilot with its supply controlled by the valve.

10. In an automatic burner lighter operable upon the opening of the valve between the burner and its supply pipe, a chamber having communication with the supply pipe, a diaphragm therein, a spring bearing on the diaphragm opposing the gas pressure thereon, means for varying the pressure of the spring, a valve operated by the diaphragm, a movable valve seat urged toward the valve and retarded in its movements, and a pilot with its supply controlled by the valve.

11. A lighter for a burner having a valve connection with a supply, comprising a chamber communicating with the supply, a diaphragm in the chamber, a spring bearing on the diaphragm opposing the gas pressure thereon, a spring-closed valve and valve seat slidably mounted and spring-pressed in the direction of opening the valve, a dash-pot re tarding the sliding movements of the valve seat, a multiplication leverage means be tween the valve and the diaphragm for open- 4 ing the valve on the movement of the diaphragm by the spring upon a reduction in pressure incident to the opening of the burner valve, and a pilot having its supply controlled by the valve.

12. An automatic lighter for a burner having a valve connection with a supply, comprising a casing communicating with the supply, a diaphragm therein subject to the pressure in the supply, a cap member enclosing the diaphragm, a set screw threaded therein, a spring bearing on the diaphragm and adjusted by the set screw, a body member on the casing, a pilot nozzle on the body member supplied by a'valve-controlled passa e from the interior of the casing, said b0 y member having a bore of diflerent diameters leading to the nozzle, a tubular valve seat slidably fitting in the smaller diameter bore and having a trunk head fitting in the larger diameter bore and forming a dash-pot between it and the shoulder formed by the change in diameter of the bore, a coiled spring contained in the dash-pot and bearing on the trunk head and on the shoulder, there being a valve-controlled passage in the body member connecting the interior of the casing with the dash-pot, a spring-closed valve fitting against the valve seat, and a multiplication leverage connection between the diaphragm and the valve.

18. A valved'burner, a pilot for lighting the burner, and apilot flashing valve sensitive to a reduction in pressure'in the supply pipe incident to the opening of the burner valve.

14. A valved burner, a pilot remote therefrom, and a pilot flashing valve for increasing the supply of gas to the pilot to cause it to project its flame into operative relation with the burner, said pilot flashing valve being sensitive to a reduction in pressure in the supply pipe incident to the opening of the burner valve.

In testimony whereof, I atfix my signature.

HARQLD A. MANTZ. 

